Governor valve



July 24, 1962 T. F. cRAMx-:R

GOVERNOR VALVE Filed Jan. 19, 1959 THOMAS BY AT T O F2 EYES UnitedStates Patent 3,045,67 GOVERNOR VALVE Thomas F. Cramer, Warren, Mich.,assignor to Holley Carburetor Company, Van Dyke, Mich., a corporation ofMichigan Filed Jan. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 787,636 4 Claims. (Cl. 137-56)The present invention relates to improvements in governors for internalcombustion engines, and more particularly to a centrifugally controlledgovernor valve. As herein shown and described the governor valve isdevised for application to an engine having throttle governor means ofthe general type illustrated in my copending applications, Serial No.737,776, iiled May 26, 1958, and Serial No. 75 8,207, filed September 2,1958, now Pat. No. 2,991,053 (multiple barrel carburetor). However, itis to be understood that the improved valve is capable of application invarious types of :governor responsive to engine speed and manifold orventuri vacuum.

lt has Ibeen proposed in truck or other installations, in which it isdesired to govern the speed of the engine, to provide suction devicesactuated by primary (or primary and secondary) venturi and/ or manifoldvacuum to override and govern the operation of a throttle plate orplates. As typiiied in the above identified applications, the intensityof the governing vacuum is controlled by a speed sensitive valve adaptedto close an air bleed when the governed engine speed is reached. Thepresent invention relates to a valve for this purpose, which valve is acentrifugally responsive type, though not centrifugally acting as to itsmovable valve element itself.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved valve of thissort which is readily modified for adjustment to overcome anyundesirable characteristics encountered in the operation of the governorwith which the valve is associated. in accordance with the inventionthis adjustment is made possible by change or replacement of one or moreof the components of the valve structure.

Another object is to provide a valve as described, in which an enginespeed-responsive rotative shaft of the governor carries radially actingcentrifugal weights adapted to variably position a valve element. Thisvalve element is mounted internally of the shaft in coaxial relation toan air bleeder valve seat in the shaft, whereby upon attainment ofpredetermined enginel speed the seat is partially or wholly closed bythe valve element. The result is to partially or wholly seal a normallyopen air bleeder passage past the seat, increasing the vacuum effectiveon a diaphragm assembly of the governor, and causing a throttle plate orplates of the governor to move toward barrel closing position andthereby diminish engine speed to the desired governed value.

Yet another object is to provide a governor control valve as describedin which, as distinguished from previous governors, the valve membercontrolling an atmospheric air bleeder passage, as described, isdistinct from the spinner arms through which centrifugal force isapplied in operation, i.e., in which the centrifugal weight member andthe valve member are structurally diiferent parts, so that the factor ofthe weight of the rst member is a negligible one in the performance ofthe governor. As herein shown the valve member moves axially in therotating centrifugal shaft.

A further object is to provide valve structure as described, in which analteration of the spring means opposl ing centrifugal action, in theinterest, for example, of obtaining increased speed, may be accompaniedby a replacement of the valve member in a diiferent outline thus toretain quick governor response.

The foregoing as Well as other objects will become more apparent as thisdescription proceeds, especially when con- O Fice sidered in connectionwith the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially broken away and in verticalcross section along broken line 1-1 of FiG. 2, of a four barrelcarburetor and governor therefor controlled by the valve of theinvention;

FIG. 2i is a bottom plan view, as from the line 2-2 of FIG. l, showingthe carburetor barrel arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a view in vertical section through the operating parts of theimproved valve, along line 3--3 of FIG. l; and

FIG. 4 is another view in a vertical section at 90 to the section ofFIG. 3.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a governor-equipped carburetor 10 in generalaccordance with what is shown in my copending application, Serial No.758,207, now Pat. No. 2,991,053 identified above. Reference can be hadto that application for a description of specific structural details ofcarburetor 10, which is in the main conventional. The reference numeral11 generally designates the improved valve of the invention.

Carburetor "10 has an air intake i12, and FIG. 1 shows the carburetorcut away to expose one of its primary barrels 14 and one of itssecondary barrels 16. The primary barrel 14 shown is provided with arestriction or venturi 18 and a throttle plate 20 is mounted on a shaft22 which extends through barrel 14 as well as the other primary barrel,in which is mounted a throttle plate identical to throttle plate 20. Thesecondary barrel 1 6 shown is also provided with a venturi 24 and athrottle plate 26A mounted on a shaft 28, which shaft extends throughthe other secondary barrel, another secondary plate being carried onshaft 28 in that barrel.

While a particular four-barrel carburetor is shown for y purposes ofillustration, it Will be apparent that the invention is equallyapplicable to two-barrel or single or multi-stage carburetors.

A vacuum type governor diaphragm assembly or device 30 is mounted on oneside of a carburetor throttle body 34 of carburetor 10. To this end asecond body 36, preferably in the form of a casting providing upper andlower recesses 38 and 40, is secured on throttle body 34. Recess 40 hasa bottom wall constituted by a flexible diaphragm 42 suitably secured tothe body 35 and deiining an air tight chamber 45, of which the exiblediaphragm 42 forms an upper wall.

The diaphragm 42 has a rod 48 secured to the center thereof inconventionalmanner, the rod passing through a vertical bore or passage50 in the body 35 and being pivoted at its top to a lever 54 secured onan end of the primary throttle shaft 22, which end extends into thechamber 38. The shaft 22 is suitably sealed and a tension spring 58tends to bias the primary throttle plate 20 in the open position. Anapertured cover plate 66 vents the chamber 38 to the atmosphere.

An orifice 72 at the primary venturi 18 and an orice 74 below theprimary throttle plate 20 are connected by means of the respectivepassages 76 and 78 (having fixed restrictions 80 and 82, respectively)with a vertical passage 84 in the body member 34, as well as witht apassage 8-6 in the cover member 44 which leads to the chamber 46. Afurther passage `8S connects passage 84 with an external threadedfitting 90. Fitting is connected by an air bleed tube or line 91` withthe improved valve 11 of the invention, hereinafter described in detail.

A secondary throttle diaphragm assembly 92 is mounted at the oppositeside of the carburetor throttle body 34 from the governor diaphragmassembly 30.

Assembly 92 comprises a body 94 having a recess vented,

diaphragm 96 which is secured to the body 94 by means of a cover 98, thediaphragm 96 providing a flexible wall separating oppositely disposedchambers 100 and 102 in the Ibody 94. A rod 104 is secured to the centerof the diaphragm 96, extending upwardly through a bore 106 in body 94,and a coil spring 108 urges the rod 104 and diaphragm 96 upwardly. Rod104 is pivoted on a lever 110 secured to the secondary throttle shaft28, and as urged upwardly it biases shaft 28 in a direction to close thesecondary throttle plates 26. A conduit 112 extends between the chamber102 and vacuum passages 114 and 116 opening respectively to the primaryand secondary venturis 18 and 24, and enables primary and/ or secondaryventuri vacuum to evacuate the chamber 102 and displace the diaphragm 96downwardly to open the secondary throttle 26. The force of the spring108 is selected so that the secondary throttle plate 26 will open at anypredetermined venturi vacuum.

An air supply conduit or tube 118 connects from the carburetor intake 12to the valve assembly 11, for a purpose to be described.

The governor structure described above, or its equivalent, is well knownin the art, and proper governing action depends upon the partial orcomplete closing of the throttle plates 20 and 26 when the engine orvehicle has reached a predetermined governing speed so as to diminish orcut off the flow of motive uid to the engine.

The improved valve member 11 of the invention has been devised tooperate in response to increasing engine speed to increase the vacuumeffective in the chamber 46 f the primary diaphragm assembly 30 andthereby urge throttle plate toward closing position, with the effectdescribed above.

To this end, the valve 11 comprises a stationary housing 120 which isadapted to be fxedly mounted on the engine in any suitable fashion, thehousing 120 being provided with a fitting 121 by which it is placed incommunication through the tube or conduit 118 with the air intake 12 ofthe carburetor 10. It thereby receives a supply of clean ltered air forbleeding of vacuum during the normal operation of the engine Ibelowgoverned speed. The housing 120 rotatably journals in a suitable fashiona shaft 124 which is driven in any appropriate way in proportionateresponse to engine speed, as at a top driving connection 125.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shaft 124 has an axial bore 126 which isplaced in communication by the line or conduit 91 with the passages 88,84 and 86 of the diaphragm assembly 30, thus in communication with thevacuum chamber 46 of the latter.

A rod or stem 128 is force-titted diametrically through the shaft,-being provided in the axial zone of shaft bore 126 with a transversepassage 129 through which bleeder air may flow. Rod 128 is provided, oneach of its oppositely projecting arms, with a weight 130 sleevedthereon; and outward centrifugal motion of each of these weights isopposed by a coil spring 131 acting between the same and an adjustableabutment nut 132 threaded on the end of the rod 128.

The centrifugal weights 130 are connected by pivoted links 134 with avalve operating sleeve 135 surrounding the shaft, so that outwardcentrifugal motion of the weights 130 causes the sleeve to be shifteddownwardly.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the interior of shaft 124 is v provided,upwardly of the rod 128, with a tapered valve seat 137, and a conicalnosed plug valve member 138 is received in a counterbore above the seat137 for axial movement toward and away from the latter. Valve member 138has a relatively loose tit in the counterbore to permit flow of 'bleederair around its sides, and is provided with a transversely extendingoperating pin 139. The wall of the shaft is slotted at 140, on oppositediametral sides, to receive and permit vertical motion of this pin.These slots are of substantial size so as to serve as air intakeopenings to the shaft bore 126 above valve E member 138. The outer endsof operating pin 139 are fixedly secured in the sleeve 135.

Accordingly, it is seen that as the speed of the shaft increases inresponse to increased engine speed, and approaches or passes desiredgoverned speed, the weights move outwardly against the opposition ofsprings 131, the links 134 tend to Hatten, drawing the sleeve 135downwardly, and the valve mem-ber 138 is brought toward seat 137. Thisrestricts or closes the normal line of communication of air fromcarburetor intake 12 through conduit 118 to the bore of shaft 124, andincreased vacuum is applied to chamber 46.

The use of a valve assembly 11 according to the invention enables thevalve member 138, its operating sleeve 135, links 134 and springs 131 tobe changed independently in order to overcome any undesirable aspect ofgovernor performance. The weight of the valve member, positioned axiallyas shown, rather than as a part of centrifugal counterweight structure,is a negligible factor in the operation of the governor. It is seen thatif springs 131 are increased in strength, for an increase in maximumgoverned speed, the shape of the valve member 138 may be altered torender its conical surface more blunt, thereby retaining responsivity inaction.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description ofthe improved governor valve in such full, clear, concise and exact termsas to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention,the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A valve assembly for an automotive or like governor of the typecharacterized by a vacuum responsive device, said valve assemblycomprising a hollow rotatable shaft adapted to be driven at variablespeed, a centrifugal device including a weight movable radially of saidshaft in response to increasing speed of rotation thereof, a membermounted for axial movement relative to said shaft and having meansconnecting the same to said weight for axial movement responsive toradial movement of the weight, said shaft having a radial openingtherethrough in communication with the interior thereof, a valve memberdisposed internally of said shaft for axial sealing movement and havingmeans extending through said radial opening and connecting the valvemember to said axially movable member to be axially moved thereby, saidshaft having an internal annular valve seat controlled by said valvemember and being in communication with atmospheric pressure on one sideof said seat, means biasing said valve member in a direction to opensaid seat, and means to connect the interior of said shaft on theopposite side of said seat with said vacuum device.

2. A valve assembly Vfor an automotive or like governor of the typecharacterized by a vacuum responsive device, said valve assemblycomprising a hollow rotatable shaft adapted to be driven at variablespeed, a centrifugal device including a weight movable radially of saidshaft in response to increasing speed of rotation thereof, said shafthaving an axially elongated slot therethrough in communication with theinterior thereof, a sleeve telescoped on said shaft for axial movementrelative to the latter and having means connecting the same to saidweight for axial movement responsive to said radial movement of theweight, a valve member disposed internally of said shaft for axialsealing movement and having a pin extending through said slot andconnecting the valve member to said sleeve to be axially moved thereby,said shaft having an internal annular valve seat controlled by saidvalve member and being in communication with atmospheric pressure on oneside of said seat, means biasing said valve member in a direction toopen said seat, and means to connect the interior of said shaft on theopposite side of said Seat with said vacuum device.

3. A valve assembly for an automotive or like governor of the typecharacterized by a vacuum responsive device, said valve assemblycomprising a hollow rotatable shaft adapted to be driven at variablespeed, a centrifugal device including a Weight movable radially of saidshaft in response to increasing speed of rotation thereof, a membermounted for axial movement relative to said shaft and having meansconnecting the same to said Weight for axial movement responsive toradial movement of the Weight, said shaft having a radial openingtherethrough in communication with the interior thereof, a valve memberdisposed internally of said shaft for axial sealing movement and havingmeans extending through said radial opening and connecting the valvemember to said axially movable member to be axially moved thereby, saidlast named means coupling said first named member and said valve memberfor rotation with said shaft, said shaft having an internal annularvalve seat controlled by said valve member and being in communicationwith atmospheric pressure on one side of said seat, means biasing saidvalve member in a direction to open said seat, and means to connect theinterior of said shaft on the opposite side of said seat with saidvacuum device.

4. A valve assembly for an automotive or like governor of the typecharacterized by a vacuum responsive device, said valve assemblycomprising a hollow rotatable shaft adapted to be driven at variablespeed, a centrifugal device including a weight movable radially of saidshaft in response to increasing speed of rotation thereof, a sleevetelescoped on said shaft for axial movement relative to the latter andhaving means connecting the same to said weight for axial movementresponsive to said radial movement of the weight, said shaft having aradial opening therethrough in communication with the interior thereof,a valve member disposed internally of said shaft `for axial sealingmovement and having means extending through said radial opening andconnecting the valve member to said sleeve to be axially moved thereby,said last named means coupling said sleeve and valve member for rotationwith said shaft, said shaft having an internal annular valve seatcontrolled by said valve member and being in communication withatmospheric pressure on one side of said seat, means biasing said valvemember in a direction to open said seat, and means to connect theinterior of said shaft on the opposite side of said seat with saidvacuum device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 94,091Duclos Aug. 24, 1869 367,177 Barr July 26, 1887 764,661 Eberhardt July12, 1904 843,237 Shepherd Feb. 5, 1907 1,210,991 Silsbee Jan. 2, 19171,361,771 OMalley Dec. 7, 1920 1,632,501 Patrick June 14, 1927 1,721,518Larzelere July 23, 1929 2,664,867 Hartzell Jan. 5, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS588,819 France Feb. 7, 1925

